If you don't respect a .380, you're not standing in front of it
Exactly. Or you've never been on the wrong end of a gun with someone shooting up the place. I have and it's scary. I'm alive because I didn't listen to so called experts in the education field and instead used my martial arts training to do what was needed to stop the gunman.
Most people have no idea what it's like to be inside a building when a guns gun off. The range isn't anything like it. The noise, the smell, and the way the body reacts to time and senses.
Now how we react and how someone mentally ill or on drugs reacts is different. Hence my response to this previously.
If you have it doesn't matter what someone is holding the reality is that any gun can kill. Ballistics, bullet size, so called stopping power, etc don't matter.
Now yes being on the wrong is one thing and being on the "right" side is another. People think you'll have time to react and theyll be able to draw and get shot off. They don't account for the noise, the confusion and all that's going on in an active shooter situation.
The reality is if you trust your life to a weapon then you're putting yourself in risk. Guns fail, gunmen don't stand and wait for you to shoot them. People are screaming and running.
Things like martial arts, 3 gun and other trading help. But the reality is no one know how they'll react until they've been there.
No I know this is long. But I think it was needed to answer part of the question. And the initial question really was two, not one. The first breing trusting you life, and the second being which gun to carry.
Just about everyone here jumped into the second part without addressing the first.
Having been in a situation where I needed a gun and didn't have one due to the stupid gun free zone laws I can say I'm very lucky to be alive. Yes lucky. Training and assistance from others helped but luck played a part.
As for the second part of the question as we know that is also not as simple as it seems. Any gun is better than no gun if you train often. If you don't then pulling a 45 may or may not save your life. Likewise a 22 could or it might not.
Will a gunman stop like the one I face when confronted giving someone time to tackle him from behind? Or is he or she so out of it they won't stop until killed? Too many assume the later but don't know if the attacker will drop right away or how long until being shot.
Will they continue and grab you, shoot you?
I'm not too proud to say I was trapped in a classroom with one exit. I hate places like that as it limits options. And given the choice I'll avoid them and flee before fighting.
Yes I'll protect anyone I'm responsible for but getting out of a fight is my first choice. Next is ending the attack. And that is with surviving without being harmed. Finally just surviving is my last goal.
So to answer the second part of the question the answer is that I always carry where it's legal. I try to avoid places where I can't carry. Likewise I avoid places that don't allow me an escape route unless I have no choice.
What I carry depends on what I'm wearing, and where I'm going. In my case it's a XDS 45 or a PF9. Both of which I shoot at least once a month and both of these guns I know work and what they'll do. Ammo selection is something I'm not going to post but I will say I usually carry at least one spare magazine.
As for a 380, given the choice I decided to go 9mm and 45. But if it made sense I'd consider it. In my case it doesn't right now, but if someone is considering a 380 does the weaker caliber and more expensive ammo make sense? Will you practice and get proficient with it? Or do you think you'll just pull it out and it'll magically save your life as you somehow hit your taglrgwtvduring the confusion of an attack.
No I know this is really long and I'm sure I'm going to get flamed but having been in a real situation I hope I can help someone with what I learned in a horrible situation.
To those I've upset I ask you when was the last time you went to the range. When was the last time you trained in a realistic setting. And finally what are you doing to make yourself safer?
To everyone else I challenge you to think about all that I wrote. What can you do to be safer? To be able to help others? And to do better with the choices you've made or to make changes and make some new choices.
And yes my answer above still stands!